The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-11-26
FOR THE UNIvERsALIsT.
MISS FLORA PATCHIN'S BE-
NEVOLENCE.


Miss Patchin had resolved in her mind
great philanthropy. Engrossed in the
contemplation of her scheme, she sum-
moned her niece from the kitchen for
consultation. The result of the con-
sultation was, they must have board
er. The scheme required money for a
basis, and what way so easy-at least
to Miss Flora Patchin-to obtain that
money as out of a boarder with her
niece to attend to the labor enjoined by
that boarder
The project absorbed her thoughts by
day and her dreams by night. Under
its influence she soliloquized:
"Let's see; to maintain bed in the
new hospital will cost three hundred a
year. That will be the interest on
three thousand dollars. Quite sum
of money to earn and not a cent in the
treasury to begin with But I'll try it
and some poor soul will take comfort
out of my charity and bless my mem
DRY when I'm gone-so she will r"
At the end of the year, Miss Patchin
had seventy-six dollars for her "hos-
pital fund" Only seventy-six dollars,
after all the planning and economizing
of her niece Samantha. Again she So
liloquized:
C Moneys desperate slow thing to
accumulate At these rates, I'll be
dead, buried and forgotten, before I'm
worth three thousand dollars The
only alternative is another boarder. Pm
determined to let my light shine,' so
I am
AT the end Of the second year, Miss
Patchin's hospital fund.-" amounted
to two hundred and ffty-three dollars
She contemplated that two hundred
and fifty-three dollars with sorrowful
countenance, and in her sorrow had re-
course to the following soliloquy:
It's miserable hard thing for a
lone woman to accomplish any good
1t seems like everything initiates
against her success but Pm deter
mined one poor suffering creature
shall be helped by my effortsl Well
fill the house with boarders; Sa-
mantha's equal to it. I'll prove my
faith by my works-so 1 will For
even so, faith if it hath not works, is
dead so it is :"
The end of the third year, found Miss
Patchin's hospital fund.-" increased to
six hundred and thirty three dollars.
Gradually it was gaining, but by no
means as fast as Miss Patchin desired
to see it. She was nervous in the hope
of attaining her wish.
Winter approached. Samantha re-
minded her aunt that the changes of
style and season demanded of her new
wrap and hat.
But, Samantha dear, Pm going to
wear my old cloak and hat of last win
ter. Can't you be comfortable in yours
again ?"
"I've worn mine two seasons already,
auntie-"
Yes, child-but we are just begin
ming to see our way clear, and we
shouldn't spend foolishly what's been
so hard to amass-so we shouldn't"
Samantha appeared on one occasion
in the Anticipated garments, and feel
ing herself conspicuous, declined to be
seen in them again. But what cause
of loss to her those questionable gar
ments were There were the Sunday
evening lectures and the music Both
worthy not alone to interest for the
present, but remembrance of them
affording thought for the future, to
gladden. her over wrought life. Perhaps
furnishing something to be carried even
into the great "Beyond,-" for who
can fathom the mysteries of that other
life
But Samantha had sustained a loss
and some one was responsible for that
loss.
Miss Patchin in her desire to accom-
plish good looked beyond the pale of
her own household and neglected the
present opportunity for one afforded
tomorrow.
AT the conclusion of the fourth year
Miss Patchin's bank account began to
assume trustworthy proportions. Again |
and again she counted it over and every |